Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-13

letter, it is presumed, was written in
contradiction to the impression conveyed
in letter written by j. w. Booth of that
county read before the Senate.
THE COMPrROLLER's 0FFICE.
The committee that have been exsmip-
ING into the condition of the ComptroU-
er's Office have made their report 10 The
Senate. 1t comprises Z long statement of
facts and figures relative TO the taxes COL
lected by state license and contrasting IL
with the taxes collected by the internal
revenue license, showing large percent
age in favor Of the revenue system.
The report deals largely with the de-
fects in the law requiring tax collectors
10 make quarterly reports. Ia this con
neCtion they say that this investigation
las shown that the law requiring tax col
IectorS 20 make, under CstE, quarterly
report, showing the taxes collected for
the state IN suCa period Of time, has been,
so lar as We Wee able TO learn, almost
totally disregarded for many years past,
botn by the ComDtroiIer's Department
and the tax collectors throughout the
state.
We think thst it would be well TO en-
act & law requiring such reports TO be
made monthly, and that it be made
penal ofense TO fail, neglect or refuse TO
comply with the same; and that it be
made the imperative duty of the Comp
troller to enforce strict compliance with
such law, with 8 proper penalty for
failure or neglect on his part
The report refers 20 the divergence of
the funds forwarded by the tax collectors
from the Treasury Department, the law
-
troller's Department. On this subject
the committee say in their report that
"Ne6rly all the public funds are now
forwarded direct to the Comptroller in
the shape of bank drafts, and as q matter
of course under such system exchange
on remote places and places with (which
there is little commercial intercourse
will be forced on the state. For this
reason such exchange is frequently
at discount, and in making collections
OF the same the department. is put to much
trouble.
The spirit and language of the statutory
provisions on the SUBJECT of collecting
and forwarding public funds contemplates
the prompt entrance into the state treas
ury alone, as the only place for their law
full custody, until paid out for the support
of the state government, and yet our in
vesngat!On mas shown that oy insenSibIe
degrees and through various means and
methods the entire finances and iinal-
CiIl machinery Of the state mas been, to :
great extent, absorbed by the COmptrol-
ler's department.
Chief among the causes that has brought
about such q state Of affairs is the fact OF
remlttanCeS being made, as above stated,
III various kinds of exchange direct &c
the Comptroller
From this has also arisen the perniciou5
custom Of depOsltIBG state funds, in the
shape Of CXChaugG, by the Comptroller
with various banks of Austin, for col
lection, and It frequently occurs thatsucn
funds remain in the hands Of said banks
for period of thirty days.
The committee wind up their report
with this recommendation 1--WE would
recommend that the Comptroller, as we'll
as the heads OF other departments, should
be required to report to the Governor, in
their annual reports, the disposition Of
all funds placed 10 the use Of such depart
ment, giving names of al employees, char
aCter OF services and 6aount paid each.
Also that the ComptF4Na.--s report each
year to the Governor; that the Comp
trCller incorporate in his annual report q
full statement of the account of each Tax
collector, showing the amounts charged,
the credits received, and the balance
due"
The entire work of the committee was
labOriOus and exhaustive showing Of
the detects ia our system OF collections,
and strong recommend tiOn for amend
atory laws to place 1t upon an equal foot
ing with Uncle Sans method of doing
business.
BEFORE THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
4 delegation, consisting Of G.. G. Gar
rett of Brenham, and W. r. CaVett of
Bryan, directors; Captain T. NJ. Scott,
agent, and Professor L. L. McGinnis,
secretary of the Board of Directors of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College
st Bryan, were present at the
meeting of the House finance committee
tonight for the purpose Of presenting
the claims OF the college for an additional
appropriation to enlarge the facilities OF
the college for the accommodation OF 3
growing scholarship, and to meet this an
appropriation Of $50, 900 in addition TO
the SI5. 900 annual appropriation to meet
the running expenses OF the college was
ask ed.
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NO !.
The House judiciary committee No.
held an informal meeting Tonight to hear
the explanation of Mr.. Freeman relative
to the claims of Texas 50 part OF the
territory within the boundaries of Kansas
and the Indian Territory. He Demon
strated his argument by the use of large
map, showing the lines embracing the
disputed territory. His explanation
was exhaustive of the whole question
as developed by the investigation of the
joint commission OF the United States
and Texas. MIR. Freeman was a member
Of the b JuRdsry commission in behalf OF
Texas, and showed that he was perfectly
familiar with all the details OF the ques-
ton, and believes Texas has a valid claim
to the territory.